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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Sept. 19: A vacuum cleaner and a suitcase were abandoned on the side of the road on Brown Street. Sept. 20: A juvenile suspect was seen taking a Lego set priced at $245 from Target.
The following report was provided by The Waltham Times:
By Isabella LaprioreThe Waltham Times
Stephen McDonough, 60, of 251 Ridge Lane, Waltham, pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of child pornography and distributing material of a child in a sexual act at a Sept. 26 arraignment at Waltham District Court. McDonough was arrested by Massachusetts State Police following the execution of a residential search warrant by the State Police Crime Unit, State Police Crime Scene Service, Middlesex State Police Detective Unit, Waltham Police Department and Watertown Police Department at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 25. According to the police report, McDonough, a former physical education teacher at St.
Watertown students at some grade levels excelled in the math section of the state’s standardized test in 2025. See more details in the announcement provided by the Watertown Public Schools. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has recognized Watertown Public Schools for its efforts in combating pandemic-era learning loss, as part of a larger release of 2025 MCAS data that shows many schools statewide are still struggling with the academic fallout from COVID-19. State education officials reported strong MCAS test scores for Watertown Public Schools, highlighted by Watertown’s performance in math achievement in grades 3-8. WPS is one of only 41 school systems in Massachusetts to meet or exceed its pre-pandemic math achievement in grades 3-8.
The City of Watertown will have a new set of goals used to create the annual budget and make decisions about how municipal departments operate, City Manager City Manager George Proakis said during Tuesday’s State of the City presentation. During the address, he and City Council President Mark Sideris also discussed the Charter Review set to happen in 2026, and the possibility of having a Post Office in the center of town. This is the second story on the 2025 State of the City Address. See the first story, focused on the factors that could impact Watertown’s economic future, and in turn the City’s budget, by clicking here. New Goals
Proakis has been in town for three years, and has worked with the City Council to create the budget.
City Manager George Proakis, left, and City Council President Mark Sideris presented the State of the City on Sept. 30, 2025. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Despite an uncertain economic future, Watertown remains on solid ground, City Manager George Proakis said during Monday’s State of the City Address. He and City Council President Mark Sideris went into depth about the economic factors impacting the City during the annual address. Proakis concluded the presentation by saying, “Even as we face uncertainties, the State of the City remains strong.”
Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall
The City Council will be weighing in on a 39-page document that sets the rules for how Watertown’s appointed committees and municipal departments operate. Some changes proposed include changing the length of terms for some committees, who appoints members of certain committees, and how to remove members of committees. The City has been working for many months with the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston to create an Administrative Code for the City of Watertown, said City Manager George Proakis at the Sept. 23 Council meeting. He provided the Council with a draft Administrative Code, which he said is designed to “serve as a single, consolidated ordinance that outlines the structure and organization of city government that essentially covers boards and commissions and covers city departments.”
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Sept. 11: A man was seen taking $539 worth of merchandise from Marshalls. Sept. 11: Police responded to Target for a woman who was shoplifting.
Watertown hired a new Veterans Services Officer, who is a Navy and Army National Guard veteran with experience in frontline medical care, and most recently worked in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services. See the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. The City of Watertown is excited to introduce Jerome (Jay) Terminiello as the City’s Veterans Services Officer (VSO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator. Jay joins the City having served 6 years with the Navy, and 3 years with the Army National Guard. During his time with the Navy, Jay delivered frontline medical care to Marines and Sailors, as well as facilitated access to physical and mental health resources to those serving.